Cigarette lighter



Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to cigarette lighters, and more particularly to that type of cigarette lighter which is semi-automatic in operation.

With the foregoing in view, an object of our invention is to provide an improved semi-automatic cigarette lighter.

A further object is to provide a lighter of the class described, wherein the act of spinning the striker wheel simultaneously operates the slidable release of the cover or snufi'er latch.

A further object of our invention comprises a cigarette lighter of the class described, wherein the flint of the striker wheel and latch for the cover are slidably mounted as a unit, whereby the act of spinning the striker wheel releases the cover latch and permits the cover to open as the lighter lights.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts, and in the particular method or mode of operation, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the specification and drawings, wherein the invention is described, claimed and shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing the preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the cover open and being taken from the opposite side of the lighter:

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modification of the invention;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the modification, of Figure 4.

In the drawings, it designates generally a casing for one form of the invention. The casing It! includes the usual fuel compartment ll closed at the top by a partition [2 and having an upstanding wind guard l3 surrounding the top of said casing and forming an enclosure. A cover I4 for closing the top of the enclosure is pivoted to the wind guard by any suitable means [5, and is biased in an opening direction by a spring 16. The under side of the cover I 4 carries a snuifer H6 and a rigid latch lug ll. A wick carrier l8 of tubular cross-section extends upwardly from the partition l2 and carries therein the usual wick 3|. The rear wall of the wind guard I3 is formed with an opening l9 therethrough to provide access to the flint tube, as will be described later. The forward wall of the wind guard I3 is formed 2 with a slot 21 therethrough for a purpose to be described later.

A plate member 20 is fitted within the enclosure formed by the wind guard l3 and rests atop the partition l2 for sliding movement in a forward and backward direction therein. The plate 20 is provided with a slot 2| which fits around the wick tube l8. A driving spring 23 biases the plate 20 in the forward or solid line position. The rear end of the spring 23 bears against the rear wall of the wind guard [3, while the forward end of the spring bears against the rear end of a housing 22 which is integral with the plate 2ll. The housing 22 contains a flint tube 24, the rear end of which is in alignment with the opening l9 to permit replenishment of the flint. The flint 32 is held in an operative position by the usual spring (not shown). The forward end of the housing 22 is, bifurcated, and the striker wheel 25 is mounted between such bifurcations by any suitable spindle 26. A latch member I2! mounted atop the housing 22 is integral therewith. As is clearly shown in Figure 1, the action of the spring 23 maintains the latch member I27 in operative engagement with the lug I1 of the cover 14.

In operation, and with the parts in the positions of Figure 1 and Figure 3, the spinning of the striker wheel 25 in a clockwise direction, Figure 3, moves the wheel 25, latch member I21, and housing 22 to the left in slot 2!v against action of the spring 23. Such movement releases the latch member from the cover latch lug I1 and. permits the cover spring I6 to spring the cover to the opening position, Figure 2. At the same time, the spinning action of the striker wheel 25 has struck a spark from the flint 32 and ignited the wick 3!. The lighted wick 3| is extinguished by manually closing the cover I4 while releasing the wheel 25. Upon release of the wheel, the driving spring 23 returns the housing wheel, flint, and lug I21 to the Figure 1 and Figure 3 positions, whereby the cover is again latched in position as the lug l1 rides over the latch member I21. The combined lateral and spinning movement of the striker wheel results in a scattering of sparks over a wide area whereby to insure ignition of the wick.

In the modification of Figures 4 and 5, the lighter 40 comprises a structure generally similar to that of the preferred embodiment of the invention, but the wind guard I3 is eliminated and replaced by a low flange 43 Which extends upwardly a short distance from the lighter housing. An extension 44 of the flange 43 at the rear end of the housing provides a rigid abutment for the driving spring 53 and is formed with an opening 49 therethrough for access to the flint tube 54. A plate member 4! is slidable in forward and backward direction-s within the flange 43, and mounts thereon a housing 42 which bears the flint tube 54 and flint 52. The forward end of the housing 42 is formed with vertically spaced ears 5| between which is mounted a striker wheel 45 by any suitable pivot 46. A bar 60 is pivotally mounted at the rear of the lighter on an ear 62 which extends between the bifurcations 64 on the rear end of the bar 60. Any suitable pivot pin 63 completes the connection, and the bar 60 is loaded in an open direction by means of the hinge spring 65. The forward end of the bar 60 is formed with a snuffer 6! which is adapted to enclose the usual wick (not shown) A latch dog 4! is formed intergrally with the snuffer 6i and normally engages the latch lug 48, which is integral with the slide plate 4|. The latch lub 48 may be formed of an integral upstruck portion of the plate 4|.

The operation of the modification of Figues 4 and 5 is the same as that of the preferred form of the invention. That is to say, spinning of the striker wheel 45 in a clockwise direction, Figure 5, will normally entail sufficient pressure on the wheel in a rearward direction to overcome the force of driving spring 53, whereby the housing 42, wheel 45-, and flint 52 are forced rearwardly against the action of the spring 53. Such movement carries the latch lug 4B rearwardly out of engagement with the latch dog 4?, whereby the hinge spring 65 throws the bar 60 to the open position.

While we have shown and described what are now thought to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise structures shown and described, except as herinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette lighter including a casing having a vertically disposed windguard surrrounding the top thereof forming an enclosure with an open top, a normally open cover pivotally mounted on the rear Wall of said Wind-guard for closing the top of said enclosure, the forward wall of said wind-guard having an opening therethrough, and a wick operatively mounted in said enclosure adjacent the forward wall of said windguard, the improvement comprising a horizontal plate member mounted in said enclosure for slidable movement forwardly and rearwardly therein, said plate member being provided with an enlongated housing secured thereto having a bifurcated forward end, a striker wheel rotatably mounted in the bifurcated forward end of said housing adjacent said wick, and positioned so that it partially extends through the opening in the forward wall of said wind-guard, a flint tube operatively secured within said housing in engageable relation with said striker wheel, coacting latch means mounted on the forward end of said housing and said cover for holding said cover in closed position, and spring means operatively secured to the rear end of said housing intermediate the latter and the rear wall of said Wind-guard for normally urging said plate member forwardly to maintain said latch means in engageable relation with said cover when the latter is in closed position.

2. In a cigarette lighter including a casing having a vertically disposed wind-guard surrounding the top thereof forming an enclosur with an open top, a normally open cover pivotally mounted on the rear wall of said wind-guard for closing the top of said enclosure, the forward wall of said wind-guard having an opening therethrough, and a wick operatively mounted in said enclosure adjacent the forward wall of said windguard, the improvement comprising a horizontal plate member mounted in said enclosure for slidable movement forwardly and rearwardly therein, said plate member being provided with an elongated housing secured thereto having a bifurcated forward end, a striker wheel rotatably mounted in the bifurcated forward end of said housing adjacent said wick, and positioned so that it partially extends through the opening in the forward wall of said wind-guard, a flint tube operatively secured within said housing in engageable relation with said striker wheel, coacting latch means mounted on the forward end of said housing and said cover for holding said cover in closed position, and a coiled spring encircling said flint tube and operatively secured to the rear end of said housing intermediate the latter and the rear wall of said wind-guard for normally urging said plate member forwardly to maintain said latch means in engageable relation with said cover when the latter is in closed position.

FRANK E. HUTTER. ALOIS QUIRIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,764,896 Segal June 1'7, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 225,623 Switzerland May 17, 1943 542,425 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1942 

